Political
Diary
New Delhi, 12 August
2020
Kashmir Conundrum
AWAITING POLITICAL
DAWN
By Poonam I Kaushish
The travails of
picturesque Kashmir continue. Political India is in the midst of loud
cantankerous cackle on Jammu &
Kashmir. All busy dissecting, debating and deliberating one year post
the bifurcation of the State into
two Union Territories, Ladakh and J&K. Questionably, has the Modi Sarkar fulfilled its promise of
development, normality and end of terrorism?
True, a year is not
enough to gauge a change in a Valley which has been birthed in violence, strife
and alienation for over seven decades. There is a heavy blanket of security coupled
with a widening trust deficit, Pakistan’s unrelenting interference in aiding
and abetting bloodshed in the Valley, increasing religious radicalisation and politico-ethnic
demands. A volatile and toxic situation.
A year which has seen
three Constitutional heads, politico Satyapal Malik, bureaucrat Murmu to ex-Minister
Manoj Sinha. Yet the Government has failed to create a sense of acceptability or
make tangible infrastructural development on the ground. “After one year we
have nothing to show people. We have failed in both security situations and infrastructural
development”, said a senior security strategist.
It is a moot point
whether Sinha can fill the political vacuum created by the abrogation of
Article 370, reignite the political conversation, kick-start the political
process with the intent to hold elections and bring peace to the conflict-raven
region?
As it stands his appointment
has failed to enthuse Kashmir’s politicians who remain sceptical. “Another
Delhi man on Delhi’s mission,” is the common refrain which seems to have had no
impact on the ground or make headway. The animosity is barely hidden. It is
part of BJP-RSS’s anti-Muslim agenda to enforce a demographic change,
disempower and disenfranchise the people.
Moreover, the Valley
is witnessing a kind of uncertainty and an unwanted decay in its governance
apparatus resulting into a growing gulf between people and the dispensation at
the helms of affairs. Consequently, radical elements are better positioned than
political entities, further complicated by homegrown militants targeting newly
elected panchayat leaders.
Over the decades Kashmir
has been a favourite playground for our politicians to carry out experiments,
weave magical myths about their political dexterity and innovations, success in
nipping Pakistan’s devious designs, tales of heroic valour in annihilating
cross border terrorism notwithstanding the simmering cauldron of discordant
voices of the Opposition and State players mingled with discontent among
Kashmiris.
Home Minister Shah’s
words that Article 370 was the root cause of terrorism in the erstwhile State
and shredding
it would help end terrorism has turned out to be a misnomer. This year alone
there have been 181 terror attacks with 98 militants killed. Militancy is rife compounded
by the continued radicalisation and recruitment of locals in terrorist ranks. Worse,
alienation has increased amidst simmering resentment as the euphoria over the killing
of terrorists has not been able to win over the people.
Leaders like PDP former
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was part of coalition Government with the
BJP till June 2018 continue to be in detention under the Public Safety Act,
except the NC’s Abdullahs or like Congress leader Soz who is under ‘house arrest’.
Last week the Lieutenant Governor refused permission for an all-Party meet
called by Farooq Abdullah. Leading to increased disgruntlement among local netas, separatists politicians and restive
youngsters in South Kashmir.
Sinha needs all his
acumen to take the bull by the horns by starting a political dialogue with all
stakeholders, expedite the political process and hold polls soon. J&K needs
an elected legislative Assembly, Chief Minister with his Council of Ministers
to take matters forward. Whether one Party
gets majority or it is a hung Assembly is not important.
Simultaneously, he
needs to sequence the process of delimitation and Statehood. A Modus Vivendi
with locals by gathering lost threads from the baggage of chequered history and
keeping ones ears to the ground.
Meanwhile, New Delhi in
moves that are in no way a break from the much vilified political culture of
what Congress Governments did in the seventy years, the Central Government is
trying to raise a “third front” of politicians ready to make a pact with the
BJP to wield power in J&K. A former little known NC player Altaf Bukhari
has floated Apni Party March 2020.
It remains to be seen
if a ‘new politics’ can be built and can Parties, like Apni Party succeed in
filling the vacuum? Given that mainstream leaders and Parties are in a quandary
and don’t know how to approach the people and what to offer them as the political
discourse that formed their linkage with the people has become redundant and
they have lost their relevance. Even if they make effort to approach people,
there is no real political space available.
Recall, mainstream
politics in Kashmir was driven around the discourse of ‘Kashmiri identity’ ---
its specificity and exclusive nature, its autonomy vis-a-vis the Centre and the need of its preservation and
protection via the special Constitutional status enjoyed by the State. With
Article 370 being struck down and creation of two UTs there is not only loss of
logic of its politics but also they have not been able to come up with a viable
cogent response.
This apart, Sinha’s other
priority is to ensure better coordination between the Centre and UT. The
absence of 4G network has meant that Kashmiri public and political opinion is
being suppressed and not allowed to surface. The Government has sought to
justify this by saying that it has ensured that there is no loss of life and there
have been no violent protests in the Valley.
But the people are expressing
themselves by remaining silent as a kind of civil disobedience and only venture
out for necessities amid the restrictions on mobile telephony and crippling
internet blockade aggravated by Covid 19. Indeed, the targeting of Kashmiris’
fundamental rights has done much to underline their perceived separateness while
the promised “development” is still only a chimera.
Further, the
Government needs to plug Kashmir deeper into the Indian economy, create more
broad-based stakeholders in the Valley which should result in pacification of
strife. Sadly, however, in the five years since Modi announced the Rs 58,627
crores Development Package projects are progressing slowly thanks to the
uncertain security scenario. Private investors do not want to set up shop due
to continued militancy as they feel development might not lead to the end of
the conflict.
For New Delhi
everything is not kosher. Today, its Kashmir policy is caught between a rock
and a hard place. The 2019 rainbow of peace and development post abrogation of
Article 370 is nowhere on the horizon. It would be simplistic to imagine that this
multi-layered and complex conflict can be resolved by a Constitutional change
or providing an economic package.
Undoubtedly, a coherent
strategy on conflict resolution is required, New Delhi needs to reduce the
sources of extremism and separatism, undermine Pakistani influence in the
Valley and make Kashmiris feel closer to India. Modi has to leave no ‘stone’
unturned to further India’s national interests. A slow and steady work in
progress.
.
Certainly, all want
Kashmir to be truly integrated into India politically, socially, culturally, religiously,
ethnically etc. However, does Kashmir want to be reunited with the rest of
India? To bridge the gap between the Valley and Centre? Do Kashmiris’ want to
belong and be Indians? Answers to these questions will for tell the way
forward. Till then India has be remain patient and await a new dawn. ----- INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
New Delhi
8 August 2020
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